Hello Richmondside readers. Some highlights of this week’s What’s Up column include: A trio of town halls to discuss Richmond’s city budget; sign ups for spring and summer camps for children; and swing dancing aboard the Red Oak ship.
Also: A crab feed will raise money for a theater group in Point Richmond, there’s a chess tournament for competitors of all ages and a transportation workshop for seniors.
And finally, if you’re looking for information about ongoing things to do in Richmond (many of them are free), we’ve got you covered. Learn where to hike or go swimming, take an exercise class, visit art museums, and find family friendly activities using our daily things to do list.
Things to know and do in Richmond
- Things to know and do in Richmond
- Things to know
- Participate in Richmond’s city budget process
- Sign up for city’s Spring Break Camp for children
- Enroll for Richmond Art Center summer camps for kids
- Learn about charter schools in west Contra Costa County
- Open house at new Richmond Chamber of Commerce office
- History of Los Cenzontles cultural center now on audiobook
- Things to do
- Cultural stories of displacement, discovery to be performed on stage
- Crab feed fundraiser for 70-year-old Point Richmond theater group
- Make a move! Chess tournament is this weekend
- What to know about ‘curious carnivores’ in your yard
- Seminar on coping with relationships, emotions
- Workshop helps seniors navigate transportation systems
- SS Red Oak ship hosting swing dance fundraiser
- Live music, comedy at local establishments
- Related stories
Things to know
Participate in Richmond’s city budget process
Three community meetings are being held in April to discuss Richmond’s budget and financial status:
- Thur.., April 10, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.;
- Mon., April 14, at 7 p.m., during the Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council meeting; and
- Wed., April 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
All of the meetings are in the city council chambers at 440 Civic Center Plaza. Visit the city website for meeting Zoom information.
Sign up for city’s Spring Break Camp for children
Need something for your children to do during the upcoming spring break from school?
Richmond Community Services is sponsoring daily Spring Break Camp activities during the first full week of April.
The activities will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for children between the ages of 5 and 14 at the Booker T. Anderson, May Valley, Nevin, Parchester and Shields Reid community centers as well as the Richmond Recreation Complex.
The cost is $70 for the Monday through Friday day activities. There is also extended care from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for $20 per session.
Spring Break Camp 2025 is being held April 7 to April 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at various community centers.
Enroll for Richmond Art Center summer camps for kids
Parents can register their children starting next week for summer camps at the Richmond Art Center.
The camps are held during a six-week period in June and July. Weekly camps are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The cost is $150 per week. There is a 10% discount for subsequent siblings who register after the initial family member signs up, and there are scholarships available. Applications must be turned in by April 11.
Registration for Richmond Art Center’s summer camps begins on Wed., April 2.
Learn about charter schools in west Contra Costa County
An education foundation is hosting an anniversary celebration for the Contra Costa County Charter Coalition.
The 5C Anniversary Celebration will recognize the accomplishments of the coalition as well as provide information for people interested in charter schools.
The free event also provides an opportunity to meet with education and community leaders.
The 5C Anniversary Celebration will be held on Thur., April 3, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Chamberlin Education Foundation, 855 Marina Bay Parkway, Suite 100, in Richmond.
Open house at new Richmond Chamber of Commerce office
The Richmond Chamber of Commerce is hosting an open house at its new offices.
Chamber officials say the free event is an opportunity to network with Richmond officials, including the chamber’s board of directors and local elected representatives.
There will also be a presentation and light refreshments will be served.
The Richmond Chamber of Commerce Open House will be held on Thur., April 3, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the chamber offices, 3720 Barrett Ave.
History of Los Cenzontles cultural center now on audiobook
A book that captures the 35-year history of the Los Cenzontles nonprofit cultural arts academy is now available on audiobook.
The book, “Bird of Four Hundred Voices,” by Los Cenzontles founder Eugene Rodriguez, chronicles the rise of the organization from a barrio youth group to a beacon of cultural preservation and education.
The center in San Pablo houses an academy, a production studio and a community space. Its goal is to amplify Mexican roots in the Bay Area.
“In a society that tries, in countless ways, to convince us to devalue ourselves, the cultural arts can help our children build resourcefulness and resilience that can protect their sense of self,” says Rodriguez.
The Bird of Four Hundred Voices audiobook is available on Audible, Amazon, Google Play, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble page, Storytel, Chirp Books, Rakuten Kobo page and eStories.
Things to do
Cultural stories of displacement, discovery to be performed on stage
Stories that cross borders and challenge definitions will be told on stage by storytellers and musicians.
Diaspora Arts Connection is hosting Third Culture Tales as a way for performers to unveil their personal journeys while exploring themes of belonging, displacement, and self-discovery.
“Through spoken word, music and personal narratives, we explore what it means to create a home in unfamiliar spaces, to embrace hybrid identities, and to redefine belonging on our own terms,” Diaspora Arts Connection officials said.
General admission tickets are $32.
Third Culture Tales will be presented on Fri., March 28, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Central Stage, 5221 Central Ave.
Crab feed fundraiser for 70-year-old Point Richmond theater group
You can enjoy some Dungeness crab and catch some entertainment at a fundraiser for the Masquers Playhouse.
Members of the Point Richmond acting troupe will be serving crab, pasta, salad and garlic bread at the fundraising sit-down dinner this weekend.
There will also be entertainment, a silent auction and raffle prizes. Tickets are $75 and attendees must be at least 21 years old.
Proceeds benefit the Masquers Playhouse, a community theater that is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
The Masquers Playhouse Annual Crab Feed is on Sat., March 29, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Galileo Club, 371 S. 23rd St.
Make a move! Chess tournament is this weekend
A community chess tournament will occupy the Richmond City Recreation Complex for most of the day on Saturday.
The tournament will feature rated and unrated adult and youth competitors as well as 30-minute timed games. Chess sets and clocks are provided.
Spectators are admitted for free. Contestants are encouraged to register in advance.
The event is sponsored by the West Coast Chess Alliance and the Richmond City Community Services department.
The 12th annual Williams-Easterling Community Chess Tournament will be held on Sat., March 29, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richmond City Recreation Complex, 3230 Macdonald Ave.
What to know about ‘curious carnivores’ in your yard
Two seminars will provide gardeners with information on carnivorous plants in the yard.
Both free workshops will be held Saturday at Curious Flora Nursery in Richmond.
The first session is on “Dangerous Flora: Bringing Carnivores Out of the Shadows.” It’s from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The second session is on “Taming Carnivores: The Sundews and Don’ts of Growing Carnivorous Plants.” It’s from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The Curious Carnivore workshops will be held on Sat., March 29, between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Curious Flora Nursery, 740 Market Ave.
Seminar on coping with relationships, emotions
A clinical psychologist will hold a seminar to help people explore ways to cope with difficult relationships and emotions.
Dr. Hanna Song of the Wright Institute in Berkeley will discuss tools to help overcome challenges involving depression, anxiety, anger, loneliness, addiction and the impact of social media as well as past trauma.
The free seminar will include a question-and-answer session as well as time for confidential discussions. Lunch will also be provided.
The mental health workshop will be held on Sat., March 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Side Branch Library, 135 Washington Ave.
Workshop helps seniors navigate transportation systems
The city of Richmond is holding a transportation workshop to provide information and guidance for older adults and senior citizens.
The free seminar provides hands-on assistance on topics such as R-Transit and Clipper cards as well as transportation systems such as Richmond Moves, the city’s free on-demand shuttle service that takes people to appointments, grocery stores and other destinations. (It does charge $1 for no-shows so be sure to cancel if you no longer need a ride.)
The workshop is being coordinated by the Richmond Commission on Aging and the Richmond Transportation Department.
The 3rd Annual Senior Transportation Workshop is Wed., April 2, at the Richmond Senior Center, 2525 Macdonald Ave.
SS Red Oak ship hosting swing dance fundraiser
Don your swirly skirts and dapper suits to enjoy dance lessons and swing music at the first big event this year on a historic ship in Richmond.
The SS Red Oak will be hosting the 2025 Spring Swing Dance in late April.
The event will feature Big Band music of the 1930s and 1940s from the Alpha Rhythm Kings. There will also be dance lessons taught by Suzie Hardt of the Hidden City Ballroom in Point Richmond.
Hot dogs and other snacks will be available for purchase in the ship’s galley as well as beer, wine and cocktails in the ship’s Tiki Bar Lounge. You can also take a tour of the Red Oak, the last of the victory ships that were built at the Richmond shipyards during World War II.
Advance tickets are on sale through April 19. They’re $25 for adults and teens and $10 for children 12 years of age and younger. After that date, tickets are $30 and $15 for kids.
The 2025 Spring Swing Dance will be held on Sat., April 26, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the SS Red Oak, 1337 Canal Blvd.
Live music, comedy at local establishments
A number of establishments in Richmond feature live music, entertainment and other events each week.
The Backyard, 205 Cutting Blvd., is a family and dog friendly outdoor beer and wine garden with food and live music. This weekend’s lineup includes Phosphorus, a four-musician band that will perform on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Reggae at The Backyard, which will feature vinyl tunes on Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
The Baltic Kiss restaurant, 135 Park Place in Point Richmond, will feature a variety of bands the next three days. On Thursday, lay/lie, a psych-rock group, plus The Letterwriters, a new band making its debut, will entertain from 8 p.m. until midnight. On Friday, Sausalito will perform hits from the 1970s and 1980s from 8 p.m. until midnight. On Saturday, the Borrowed Timers, a Bay Area contemporary band, and Secret Emchy Society, a queer country group, will share the stage from 8 p.m. until midnight. On Sunday, The Freeze 32F, which states it plays “icy hot music for cool people,” and X Confidence, a retro band of 1970s and 1980s groove, will perform from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Factory Bar, 12517 San Pablo Ave., which features indoor and dog friendly patio seating, will host food trucks and pop-up eateries Thursday through Wednesday with karaoke set for Tuesday night as well as Whiskey Wednesday the following evening. On Thursday, DJ Sir Slushalot will play musical tunes.
The waterfront Riggers Loft Wine Company, 1325 Canal Blvd., will have live music these next four days. On Thursday, the winery will host Bandworks, where three bands will play classic rock cover songs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Friday, the nine-piece band Corner Pocket that performs soul, classic rock, funk and R&B will perform from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There’s an $8 cover charge. On Saturday, The Bonafides will bring their version of New Orleans jazz and soul to the stage from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There’s a $5 cover charge. On Sunday, it’ll be Erica & Friends will entertain with folk music from Ireland and the British Isles from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There is a $5 cover charge.
The outdoor waterfront Sailing Goat restaurant, 1900 Stenmark Drive, with views of San Francisco Bay at San Pablo Harbor, will feature live music this weekend. On Saturday, Dore Coller’s Bermudagrass Triangle will perform a variety of music from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. On Sunday, it’s guitarist Nathan X Moody on stage from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Windchaser Wine Company, 1352 S. 49th St., is hosting jazz and oysters with the Art Springs Quartet from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Be sure to check out our list of recurring activities and our calendar for more things to do in Richmond and add your local events for free.
